The National Bank of Poland have issued a silver coin to mark the tragic events which occurred one year ago. The 10th April 2010 was the day when the President of the Republic Lech Kaczyński and his wife Maria the First Lady of Poland along other members of the government, commerce, and notoriety were killed in a plane crash in Smolensk, Russia. On their way to attend a 70th anniversary memorial to the victims of the Katyn Massacre, the plane was reported lost due to poor weather conditions and the tragic events unfolded resulting in the death of all 96 people on board.
The obverse of the coin shows the outline of the passenger jet plane along with the branches of a tree. Inscriptions indicate the date of the tragedy, “10.04.2010” and the name of the city, “SMOLENSK”.
The reverse of the coin depicts several trees without their tops, as the plane had sheared off the branches during the emergency landing. The denomination of “20 Zlotych” is seen just to the left of the main design along with the national emblem, the crowned eagle. The year of issue “2011” is positioned to the lower right side.
The coin is struck by the Mint of Poland to proof quality and in sterling silver with a weight of 28.2 grams and a diameter of 38.6 mm.
A 10 Zlotych proof silver coin with a portrait of Slawomir Skrzypek, the late president of the National Bank of Poland who was on board the Smolensk flight is also available. The specifications for this coin are 32 mm in diameter with a weight of 14.1 grams of sterling silver.
For more information on these and other coins offered by the National Bank, please visit their website at: http://www.nbp.pl/homen.aspx?f=/en/banknoty/kolekcjonerskie/2011.html
